Octoberfest 2011 (THE BIG PICTURE)

Oktoberfest 2011

The taps were flowing and the oom-pah bands were oom-pahing again in Germany. It’s Oktoberfest time, and the world’s largest festival celebrating beer reportedly attracted some 6 million visitors this time around before the taps ran dry earlier this week. The origin of the event dates back to 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig was married to Princess Therese and the people of Munich were invited to attend the festivities. Only beer brewed within the city limits of Munich can be served at the festival. -- Lloyd Young (30 photos total)

Revelers attend the last and sunny day of Oktoberfest beer festival on Oct. 2 in Munich, Germany. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images)

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A crowded beer tent during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on Sept. 17 in Munich, Germany. The world's biggest beer festival starts Sept. 17 and runs until Oct. 3. (Alexandra Beier/Getty Images) #

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Revelers covered against rain try to kiss each other during day 2 of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on Sept. 18. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) #

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A reveler dressed with traditional Bavarian costume attends the last day of the festival. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) #

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Visitors try to get a beer mug in a festival tent at the start of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese ground in Munich, southern Germany, on Sept. 17. The 178th edition of the world's biggest beer festival which excepted to attract around six million visitors starts today and runs until Oct. 3. (Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A overall view as revelers attend the last day of the Oktoberfest beer festival at dusk on Oct. 2. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) #

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A young woman drinks beer while wearing a fancy Bavarian costume during the last day of Oktoberfest. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) #

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Young people lift up their beer steins after the official opening of the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival in a beer tent in Munich, southern Germany, Sept.17. More than six million guests from around the world are expected to descend on the beer tents of Munich to celebrate Oktoberfest over the next 17 days. Last year's visitors consumed some 7.1 million 2-pint (1-liter) mugs of beer. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press) #

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Bavarian riflemen and women in traditional costumes fire their muzzle loaders in front of the 'Bavaria' statue in Munich Oct. 3. Members of various shooting clubs of the region met for a salute on the last day of the famous Oktoberfest beer festival. (Matthias Schrader/Assiciated Press)#

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Revelers attend the last sunny weekend at Oktoberfest beer festival. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) #

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A Bavarian rifleman in traditional costume stands in front of the 'Bavaria' statue in Munich. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press) #

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Revelers attend the last sunny weekend at Oktoberfest beer festival on Oct. 2 in Munich. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) #

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A waitress serves beer mugs in a festival tent at the start of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese ground on Sept. 17. (Frank Leonhardt/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Revelers enjoy the view over the Oktoberfest from the top of the roof of a nearby house during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on Sept. 17. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) #

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Visitors ride a swing carousel during the Munich Oktoberfest Sept. 23. (Michael Dalder/Reuters) #

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Participants of the traditional costume and riflemen's procession during day 2 of the 2011 Oktoberfest. (Alexandra Beier/Getty Images) #

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Musicians dressed in traditional Bavarian clothes take part in the traditional costumes and riflemen parade of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese fair grounds in Munich. (Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Visitors stack beer mugs after the opening ceremony of the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, on Sept.17. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press) #

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Visitors of the Oktoberfest beer festival walk through the rain at the Theresienwiese fair grounds in Munich Sept. 18. (Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Visitors take a ride in a Ferris wheel at the Theresienwiese fair grounds of the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich. (Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A man looks into a seven-square-metre room containing two single beds for Oktoberfest visitors at the Olympic Horse Stadium in Munich-Riem Sept. 14. Millions of beer drinkers from around the world will come to the Bavarian capital over the next two weeks for the 178th Oktoberfest, which will start on Sept. 17 and runs until Oct. 3. (Michaela Rehle/Reuters) #

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Revelers attend the last sunny weekend at the Oktoberfest beer festival on Oct. 2. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) #

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In a five second time exposure a carousel rotates in front of the Mariendom (Cathedral of Mary), left, and the St. Severi's Church, right, during the Oktoberfest in Erfurt, central Germany, Oct. 4. (Jens Meyer/Associated Press) #

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Visitors rest in the grass during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on Sept. 17. (Alexandra Beier/Getty Images) #

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Young visitors rest during the opening ceremony of the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich Sept.17. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press) #

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A young woman poses with a beer mug in the Hofbraeuhaus-tent after the opening of the famous Bavarian beer festival in Munich. (Matthias Schrader/Assosiated Press) #

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A Bavarian dressed man enjoys drinking beer at Hacker-Pschorr beer tent during day 2 of the Oktoberfest 2011. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) #

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A man from Australia dressed with traditional Bavarian clothes sleeps on a bench early in the morning before the start of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese ground in Munich. (Karl-Jodef Hildenbrand/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A woman arranges gingerbread hearts in a booth as preparations were under way for the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese fair ground in Munich. (Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images) #

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An empty beer mug sits in the rain at the famous beer festival Oktoberfest in Munich Sept.19. (Matthias Schrader/Associated Press) #